Mumbai: The launch of veteran actor Dilip Kumar’s autobiography, The Substance and the Shadow, saw the who’s who of Bollywood turning up.
While veteran actress Vyjayanthimala, Madhuri Dixit and Priyanka Chopra lit the lamp, Dilip Kumar’s wife Saira Banu, Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Dharmendra. Javed Akhtar, Salim Khan, and Subhash Ghai were all present on stage.
Talking about the thespian, Amitabh Bachchan, who read an excerpt from the book, said, “I still remember, after watching Ganga Jamuna, I was in awe of Dilip saab. Watching someone who was not from Allahabad, speak a language so impressively, increased my respect for him.”
Reminiscing, he added, “Salim ji, Javed ji and I were sitting one evening and discussing some script. Salim and Javed decided to go to Dilip saab’s residence. On reaching we informed the security and the next moment Dilip saab was there in the drawing room. The discussion went on until 4 am.”
Dharmendra said, “It was the first time that I watched a Pathan holding the tri-color and singing “Vatan ki raah mein” When I came out of the theatre I felt that Dilip saab was my brother. It was then that I decided to come to Mumbai and join the industry.”
He added, “I remember one day I was invited to dine at Dilip saab’s place. After having chicken biryani, I wanted some drinks. Dilip saab understood I was missing something and he offered me what I was craving for. I would gulp double of what he did.”
Aamir Khan, meanwhile, recited a poem penned by Prasoon Joshi.
